Thirty year trends in childhood asthma and allergic conditions in Poland.

BACKGROUND

Asthma and allergic conditions are among the most common chronic diseases in children. Their prevalence has been rising globally, with regional variability. We aimed to evaluate long-term trends in asthma and other allergic conditions among children in Chorzów, Poland, over a 30-year period.

METHODS

We conducted five repeated cross-sectional surveys (1993, 2002, 2007, 2014, and 2023) among children aged 7-10 years. Parents completed standardized questionnaires on respiratory symptoms, physician-diagnosed conditions, and treatment. Trends were assessed using chi-square tests for trends and logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. Analyses were also completed after stratification by sex.

RESULTS

Asthma prevalence increased from 3.4 % in 1993 to 12.6 % in 2014, before slightly declining to 10.4 % in 2023. Allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and dermatitis showed consistent increases, with dermatitis rising from 2.4 % to 18.1 %. Food allergy prevalence stabilized at ∼17 % after 2014. Sex-specific analyses revealed diverging patterns: asthma prevalence declined in girls but rose in boys between 2014 and 2023. Despite reductions in treatment use in 2023, some asthma-related symptoms decreased, suggesting improved management.

CONCLUSION

Asthma prevalence among Polish children peaked in 2014 and has since stabilized, while allergic diseases continue to rise. These findings highlight evolving environmental and clinical influences and underscore the need for continued monitoring and targeted public health interventions.